How to Bake Real Chocolate Bownies Wthout Refined Sugar

Have a hankering for chocolately, fudgey brownies, but you don't want all that refined sugar? Replace the refined sugar with fruit juice, maple syrup, molasses or rice syrup for a surprisingly satisfying snack.

Things You'll Need

• 9-inch-by-9-inch baking pan
• Flat cookie sheet
• 12 oz. package of grain-sweetened chocolate chips (made without refined sugar, available in health food stores)
• 1 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour (for wheat allergies, use a combination of soy flour, cornmeal, brown rice flour or oat flour)
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup of fruit juice (apple, pear or a combination) or maple syrup or rice syrup or molasses
• 1/2 cup dried prunes, soaked in 1/4 cup hot water to reconstitute
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup canola or very light olive oil

Instructions

How To Make Real Chocolate Brownies Without Refined Sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9-inch-by-9-inch baking pan with light olive or canola oil.

2. On a separate flat baking sheet, spread the chopped walnuts and bake for 5 to 6 minutes. Stir to brown evenly and do not over-bake. In a bowl, add hot water to the dried prunes and allow to sit for 20 minutes to reconstitute. Mix to blend.

3. Add remaining wet ingredients to the prunes. In another bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir thoroughly. If the batter is too stiff, add 1/4 cup of fruit juice or water. Blend again.

4. Pour into baking pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Do not over-bake.

5. Let cool completely before slicing. These brownies have a relatively low fat content and freeze well.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use honey for baking as the process changes the nature of the honey and makes it more difficult for the body to digest.